The master's degree program in Molecular & Cellular Biology was designed for students who seek advanced preparation for professional school, e.g. MD, DO, DVM, PharmD, etc., or future careers in industry, government, or academia.

We offer a wide selection of courses that span several major disciplinary areas: Biochemistry, Cell & Developmental Biology, Microbiology, Molecular & Integrative Physiology, and Neuroscience. Students can also take advanced laboratory courses to develop lab skills that may be useful in their future vocation. This program does not include a research thesis component.

While the MS in MCB program is suitable as preparation for a PhD program in MCB or related areas, it is uncommon for students to enter the MCB PhD program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign after finishing this degree.

Requirements  Courses  Apply  Resources for grad students

Estimated time & cost

Enrollment for this program requires a minimum of two full-time semesters. Credit hours will range from 6–12 (or more) each semester, depending on course availability, international/domestic status, and student goals. International students are required to register for 12 credit hours to maintain F-1/J-1 student status. Fees can vary based on the individual applicant.

For information on current graduate tuition and fees, please visit the Office of the Registrar's "Tuition & Fee Rates" page. None of these costs include housing, transportation or other living expenses.

For information on courses, refer to the Approved Course List.

Application process

Apply to this program by visiting the Graduate College's application page.

Deadlines

For Fall 2023 admission to the MS in MCB program, the deadline to apply is December 1, 2022.
To receive full consideration, ALL application materials need to be received by the application deadline.